Eye of the Tiger: Gayle sparks outrage with swing and miss at Aussie presenter

You don’t earn a reputation as one of the most feared batsmen in the manic-paced 20/20 cricket arena by measured and judicious stroke play. And when the people writing your cheques see it fit to name their enterprise the “Big Bash”, a sorta adventurous, free-spirited nature is implied.

Boy did Chris Gayle ever read the conditions wrong when an attractive Channel Ten reporter, Mel McLaughlin, came walking over for a brief interview with the Melbourne Renegades and West Indies cricket star.

It was as sad as seeing a three-year-old child try to tie his own shoelaces. Or watching Jack Warner try to pronounce: “electricity.” Or “extradition.”

Photo: Try it one more time: Ex-tra-dish-on!Former Chaguanas West MP and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner.(Copyright AFP 2015/Alva Viarruel)

Anthony Everard, the head of the Big Bash League, described Gayle’s comments as: “disrespectful and simply inappropriate.”

Melbourne Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry vowed to discuss the matter with Gayle and Cricket Australia and warned that: “There’s just no place for that sort of behaviour.”

Everard pointedly noted that the Big Bash was: “all about its appeal to kids, families and females.” Translation: we have no intention of messing with our ratings.

The Daily Mail, never one to miss an opportunity for moral outrage when it isn’t spying on celebrities and rummaging through voice messages left with the families of kidnapped victims, referred to the West Indian’s interview as: “sleazy.”

And what does Mr Live Wire think?

Photo: Australian television sport presenter Mel McLaughlin.

First, McLaughlin deserves the opportunity to get through her work day in peace without having to bat away unwanted advances. And she probably will once she crosses 50.

Second, the lightbulb that flashed over Gayle’s head as he produced his pick-up line was clearly on dim voltage. But then it must be hard to tell whether you are truly funny, handsome and charming when your bank balance has seven digits.

Gayle, sorry pal, but you are less (Morris) Chestnut and more Forest (Whitaker). And that can limit your options in terms of the women who blush at your advances.

Third, Gayle did not insult, grope or intimidate McLaughlin. He was simply childish, cocky and stupid. So perhaps the penalty should match the crime.

Photo: Neither of West Indies cricket stars Chris Gayle (right) and Dwayne Bravo have been shy about expressing their fondness for Australian television presenter Mel McLaughlin

And, chances are when you have a microphone thrust at you as often as sport stars do, you will sometimes say some really stupid things.

Male reporter (in post-game press conference): “How long does it take you to get over the disappointment (of a loss)?”

Russian professional tennis star Maria Sharapova: “There is so much of good self-esteem when you speak. It is really nice… What was the question? I was just admiring your form.”

Chances are that if McLaughlin wants to take a stance against sexism in the workplace, she would not have to look as far as the Caribbean.

Channel Ten’s first response to Gayle was a slap on the back and, far from a private snicker, they shared the joke with the embarrassed television host and the rest of the world.

Photo: Chris Gayle was not the only one to get in a muddle over Mel McLaughlin.The Channel 10 social media team was not sure whether to praise Gayle or their own employee after the incident.

Channel Ten tweet: “Gayle to @Mel_Mclaughlin: ‘Hopefully we can win this game & have a drink after. Don’t blush baby’ #smooth #BBLO5.”

It took another 10 minutes before Channel Ten’s social media manager recognised that maybe their employee wasn’t there as “eye food”, although the station still opted against rebuking the cricketer.

“Well played to our very own @Mel_Mclaughlin for staying professional during the interview. What a pro…”

Mr Live Wire does not want to cast aspersions but he has noticed over the years that, apart from the odd ex-world champion, female sport reporters at television stations tend to be strikingly attractive and generally blonde.

With all due respect to the gentlemen pictured above—who Mr Live Wire has the pleasure of all knowing professionally—none would probably reduce Serena Williams to a lustful, incoherent mess during a television interview. And, thankfully, we do not generally expect our male reporters to possess such powers.

The elephant in the room when it comes to the hiring of female reporters, so to speak, is a fox.

Which is not to say Gayle doesn’t deserve to be castigated for failing to read the wicket.

Sadly, poor Chris seems to be a relic from a bygone era who has struggled to come to grips with the 21st century and simply stands out like a sore thumb in progressive company.

Editor’s Note: Chris Gayle subsequently apologised for his “simple joke” that was “blown way out of proportion.” Which sounded surprisingly close to Gayle saying: “you idiots just don’t get it.”

And Gayle was sweet enough to give his regrets to Mel McLaughlin with a sentence that included the word “if.” Awww… His apologies are as bad as his pick-up lines. But at least he patronised us.

(Full Chris Gayle “apology”)

“A lot of things have flared up from a simple comment, a joke, a simple joke on air and it seemed to went out of proportion.“There wasn’t anything at all meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel and if she felt that way I’m really sorry for that. “There wasn’t any harm meant in that particular way to any particular person like that. “It was a simple joke, the game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion but these things do happen.“There wasn’t any harm done, I’ll leave it at that. I’m sorry for that, we’ll have to move on.”

Incidentally, former Australia World Cup and Everton footballer Tim Cahill and British television personality Piers Morgan both “get it” as evidenced by their tweets on the matter.

Photo: Former Australia World Cup footballer Tim Cahill and British television personality Piers Morgan were among scores of people who rallied behind West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle.

562 comments

As for the Rowley issue that has been raised; please remember that a 65 year old married man was gyrating on a half naked 17 year old child….but I guess that’s proper in PNM world. Is it that there are different standards for persons based on your political affiliation? Wrong for UNC, right for PNM?

Could it be that the move to get Gayle out of Australia has nothing to do with Mel but with the fact that he just demolished the bowling of his opponents? Could it be that Mel was just a perfect excuse, that came at the perfect time?

Could it be similar to what was done to Sunil Narine last year when the owner of Chenai Super Kings who was in an influential position in the ICC and BCCI ensured that Narine did not play in the final against CSK? And that the ICC sought another bowling test – despite Narine having passed the first one?
Politics and profit in sport orgs go hand in hand.

Gayle’s Mgt team should be dismissed. This matter could have been handled much better had a proper apology been given. Gayle’s Mgt team could have spun this to his favour. They all failed.

Ravi Balgobin Maharaj I owe you a sincere apology, I have wronged you.

Formerly I was positive that you were a racist UNC sycophant minion who’s sole purpose in life was to discredit the PNM in order to promote the tribe to political, economic and social dominance of Trinidad and Tobago …… but now I see that your misguidance is deeper than that …… your seriously demented!

No because it’s the same thing, where tens of thousands of racists protested on Twitter and social media against John Boyega starring in Star Wars because they felt his character was written as a white man, but cast as a black

Wonderful!!! And was he removed from the cast as a result of the Twitter Rant?! NO! Not one ass happened…so use what little you seem to have between yuh ears nah..and THINK about what you’re saying before you say it nah!!! #wheFADDA

But it needs to be discussed. Again I reiterate that I am in no way excusing what Chris Gayle did, of saying that he shouldn’t be punished. But we cannot turn a blind eye to the racist elements as well

“A witch-hunt must ensue. Fines must be imposed, careers ruined, individuals barred. The magnitude of the offence seems immaterial; an inconsequential incident generates the type of indignation that used to be reserved for serious transgressions.”

A direct quote from the article you posted Lasana.. This is such a clear racist and overblown non issue.. Days have passed and I’m even more steadfast in my view..the girl Mel didn’t like Gayle’s advances.. Trust me, if it was Tom Cruise we would have watched her turn red as Rudolf’s nose.. Just farcical..

Because I posted doesn’t mean I agree eh Kelvin. Lol. But I said from the start that the penalty should fit the crime.
My only issue is in people saying he did nothing wrong. And the fact he also thinks so.

The introduction of race into the debate surrounding this incident as some sort of counterpoint to attempt to diminish the outrage, disgust and repulsion that those of us (predominantly women) feel about Gayle’s behaviour might be more sexist that what Gayle actually did.

I realize that among the things I took for granted that most people could readily identify are sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances …… and what constitutes racism ….. definitely what constitutes racism!

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